Process and apparatus for producing indicia tubes for display devices



A. KAUFMAN Jan. 2, 1940.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING INDICIA TUBES FOR DISPLAY DEVICESFiled June 2, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l fl'qZ.

Jan. 2, 1940. KAUFMAN 2,185,733

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING INDICIA TUBES FOR DISPLAY DEVICESFiled June 2, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet .2-

48 .60 56 I g; g 42 U A 8 if. L? 60 I02 g y I22 40 m x25 :1 11111121:A::)

v I I A IN ENTOR //Z W' I Y A ATTOR Jan. 2, 1940. KAUFMAN 2,185,733

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING INDICIA TUBES FOR DISPLAY DEVICESFiled June 2, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m2 5; ,8 L74 3% 88 24 i 5 I l v 97 4-/04 "2 Q 1!! m4 m t 5% A :41? I32 M0 3 km 54 ""Y/ ,0 7% /2 Q \IQJVENTOR5 R BY b M ATTO Patented Jan. 2, 1940 PATENT OFFICE PROCESS ANDAPPARATUS FOR PRODUC- ING INDICIA TUBES FOR DISPLAY DE- VICES AlfonseKaufman, Long Beach, N. Y., assignor to Biolite Incorporated, New York,N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 2, 1936, Serial No.83,100

4 Claims.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rapidmethod of producing display devices of the type wherein theefiectiveness of the device is produced by a moving column of liquidconfined in a transparent form which may constitute a letter, or otherindicia, or a portion thereof, either alone or as a portion of a word,name, slogan, or the like, and whereinattention of an observer isattracted by the moving liquid within the form, the motion beingproduced by bubbles rising rapidly through the liquid in its transparentcontainer.

More particularly, the present invention relates to glass tubingcontaining a colored liquid preferably of low boiling point andmaintained under sub-atmospheric pressure and wherein the liquid isbroken up into separated sections by bubbles generated in the liquidsolely by application of heat to the tubing, the motion of the bubblesin the tubing being an important means of attracting attention to thedisplay.

The source of heat for producing the bubbles also conveniently suppliesan illumination for the display, which adds materially to theattractiveness of the motion imparted by the bubbles in the liquid.

In carrying out the present invention, a glass tube is provided ofsufficiently small diameter to maintain a meniscus of. liquid and topreserve moving columns of liquid and gas (vapor) produced from theliquid; and the present inven tion is concerned principally with themethod of making the tube and introducing the liquid therein.

Generally speaking, the structure of the present invention is a glasstube of the above-indicated character, in which a volatile liquid suchas acetone, ether, alcohol, or other volatile liquids containingdissolved coloring matter has been introduced. the tube being highlyevacuated so as to substantially depress the already low boiling pointof the liquid, whereby upon application of only moderate warmth to thetube, a portion of the liquid becomes vaporized, and the resultingvapors form bubbles which pass through the liquid, causing displacementand movement thereof, the vapors recondensing to liquid as soon as theyreach the cooler portions of the tube; and the present invention relatesto the shaping, evacuation and filling of the tubes with the liquid,whereby the desired display will be produced.

One of the objects of the invention, therefore, is to provide animproved process for the production of displays of the above-indicatedcharacter, wherein the steps are simple and are interrelatedsequentially to produce a highly expeditiously executed process from theinitial manipulations effected on the tube to the completed indicia.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved process forevacuating and filling the tube with liquid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tube of thecharacter above-indicated, which is preformed into a desired indicia,and which is provided with a simple means for enabling the tube to beevacuated, filled with a predetermined amount of liquid, and sealed.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means forexpeditiously carrying out the operations of evacuating the preformedtube and to fill the tube with a measured quantity of fluid wherein theoperations of evacuating, filling and sealing of the tube may be carriedout by simple manipulations of the said means and without necessitatinghandling or manipulation of the tube itself during these operations.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the description proceeds, and the features of novelty willbe pointed out in particularity in the appended claims; and theinvention accordingly comprises the sequence of steps of the operation,the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangementof parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter setforth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in theclaims.

The invention will be understood more readily by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational viewof a glass tube showing the first stage of production of a desiredindicia.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a further stage of production of theindicia.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, but taken at right angles toFig. 2 and showing the application of a sealing tube to Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a tube bent into the form of a simple letteror indicia, showing the tube ready for the attachment of the tube ofFigs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a view of the indicia tube of Fig. 4 showing the tube of Figs.1, 2 and 3 applied thereto and the exhaust neck sealed oif to form thecompleted tube with liquid therein.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus for evacuating andfilling a tube with fluid, the

the showings of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus shown in elevation atthe left of Fig. 6, showing the tube in exhausting and filling position.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of one of the valves of the apparatus'ofFig. 7, the view being taken generally on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 andshowing the valve in open position.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the valve in closedposition.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the valve construction shown at the leftof Fig. 7, showing the valve in open position.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of apparatus of thetype shown in Fig. 10.

The present invention is directed to the method of producing thecharacter or letter indicia for the energy required to produce thebubbling and light may be supplied to illuminate the liquid and thebubbles. The translucent part is in the form of a character such as aletter,- numeral, a sign,

an emblem or a design, or any combination thereof. It will beunderstood, also, that the term "translucent as employed in thedescription and claims herein is intended to embrace the termtransparent.

49 The liquid occupies but part of the space within the device, thepressure within the remainder of the space being at less thanatmospheric. at room temperature. A volatile liquid such as acetone orether is preferably employed. This may have 1 5 sufilcient natural colorfor display purposes, or-

coloring matter may be added. The bubbling is attained by heating thelower end of the de- .vice (indicia tubes) whereby, as will be apparentas the description proceeds, a part of the liquid 50 is vaporized andpasses through the remainder of the liquid to the top of the device whenthe normal room temperature causesthe vapors to condense and fall backas a liquid toward the bottom of the device. The result is, therefore,that when the indicia are formed, filled with liquid as will bedescribed herein, and assembled properly to produce the desired display,they will have moving gaseous and liquid elements therein for enhancingthe display eflects of the device, the gaseous phase of the componentsof the device being produced solely by the application of heat to theindicia, as described above, which pro-. duces an intermittent butregular motion within the liquid.

The liquid in the indicia tubes may be colored in any convenient way asby having a dye in solution as a constituent. Colored suspensions orpowders may be used. The liquid remains in contact with the heatedportion of the tube for a relatively short period during the operationof the device, and the liquid which is so in contact changes constantlyso as to retain its color after long use, neither dye nor suspendedcoloring matter baking out on the walls of the heated per-- tions of thetube.

tube having been prepared in accordance with The accompanying drawingsillustrate the manipulative operations involved in the production of thecompleted indicia, and there are also shown in the drawings details ofthe apparatus,

in preferred form, which is used for exhausting the tubes and forfilling the tubes with liquid while maintaining the said. tubes andliquid therein under subatmospheric pressures, and for holding the tubesfor enabling themto be readily sealed off for retaining the liquid undervacuum in the completed tubes, all of which is accomplished withoutnecessitating handling or manipulation of the tubes during theevacuating, filling and sealing of! of the tubes.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen thatArepresents generally a glass tube. which is sealed at one end and whichhas been blown, adjacent to its sealed end, into an enlarged bulb l8 byany well known glass manipulating practice, this bulb l8 forming finallya fluid reservoir, as will become apparent. The tube A is also provided,immediately adjacent to the bulb is, with a. constricted portion2ll,which is formed into the soft glass by any standard practice.Conveniently this is done by holding the glass tube in a jaw-clampingapparatus, while heating the portion of the tube thus held and thesealed end thereof until the glass becomes plastic, the open end of thetube being attached to a convenient source of air pressure, whereby theen-.

largement of the bulb i8 is produced.

heated at the constricted portion 20 until it .becomes plastic, when itis bent sharply as indicated at'22 in Fig. 2,. the air pressure beingstill applied, forming a capillary passage.

The tube A is then heated at a localized spot above the bend 22, asindicated at 24. with application of air pressure until a hole is blownthrough the tube at the point 24, which provides an orifice to which issealed a branch tube 26, care being taken 'to assure the tube 28 beingsecured to the tube Am a perfect seal all around the orifice 24. Theside tube 26 is intended to serve as an exhaust tube as will be apparenthereinafter.

- At this stage ofthe' proceedings, 9. second glass tube B may be taken,and sealed at one end, as indicated at 28. The tube is then heated in aregion 30 and bent in a predetermined manner such as is indicated forexample in Fig. 4, wherein the bend is made at right angles, therebyproducing the letter L. Care is taken during the bending to applyairpressure, as is well known in glass bending, so as to maintain the tubein the region of the bend, of substantially the same diameter as theremainder of the tube. The tube B may thenbe heated at the elbow of thebend while applying air pressure thereto, until an open- I The tube B isnow to be evacuated and filled I with the desired quantity of'liqui'd.

Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive conveniently is-employed,

In order to do this, the apparatus shown' in' since it permits theevacuation and filling of the tube without requiring-anyhandlingormanipulation of the tube during the evacuating and fillingoperations. I

In order to carry out these operations, the tube is mounted in animproved evacuating and filling apparatus indicated generally at C inFig. 6, and which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

This apparatus is connected by a delivery tube 36 to a distillationflask or similar receptacle 36 which contains a supply of volatileliquid 40, which liquid may be acetone, or ether or other suitablevolatile liquid, which is heated in a constant temperature water bath42, of any desired standard type.

The flask 38 is provided with a usual reflux condenser 44, through whichwater is maintained in circulation, this condenser being fitted into theflask 38 through a hole in a two hole stopper 46, the delivery tube 36passing through the other hole of the stopper, and down into the flask38 to approximately the bottom of the flask.

As will be pointed out in greater detail hereinafter, the apparatus C isattached to a vacuum line through a connection such as is indicated bytube 48, whereby upon suitable manipulation of a valve system, whichwill be described hereinafter, liquid from the flask 38 will be drawnover through the tube 36 until a gage tube 50, forming a part of theapparatus C-becomes filled with the liquid, this gage tube being themeasure of the liquid which is to be inserted in the indicia tube B.

The liquid 40 in the flask 38 is heated by the bath 42 to its boilingpoint so that there will be no dissolved air or other gases present inthe liquid that is drawn over through the tube 36.

The bath 42 is conveniently a constant temperature water bath, it beingprovided with a cover 52 through which passes an electric heater 54,this heater being immersed in a body of water 56 contained in the waterbath receptacle 42.

The temperature of the bath may be controlled by any suitablethermostatic control mechanism in circuit with the heater 54, suchmechanism being operable responsively to temperature changes in thewater 56 of predetermined amounts, a rise of temperature above that forwhich the thermostat control is operative shutting off the supply ofcurrent to the heater 54, so that the temperature of the bath will fallfor a predetermined amount. when the temperature responsive mechanismwill again become operative to restore the current flow through the theapparatus C comprises a housing 62 in which is mounted a plug 64 whichis exteriorly threaded as shown at 66, and which is provided with aninterior duct 68. This duct 68 is branched as indicated at I0, thisbranch leading to a vacuum line, not shown, through a rubber connectionI2, which is controlled by a valve I4.

The plug 64 is provided with a recess in its threaded end, this recesscontaining a resilient washer I6 and. clamping mechanism I8, thismechanism including retractable clamping devices which are operable bymeans of a handle 80 and a yoke or the like 82 which is connected with acap 84 fitting over the threaded end of the plug 64.

The resilient washer I6 and the cap 84 have alined passagestherethrough, which passages are also alined with the duct 68.

The clamping device I8 is also apertured with the opening therethroughbeing in alinement with the passages in the cap 84 and the washer I6.

There isthus provided a means whereby the branch tube 26 of the indiciamay be brought into connection with the duct 68, and held in positionduring the evacuating and filling operations by a simple movement of thelever handle 80, so as to bring the clamping members I8 into clampingengagement with the tube 26. The indicia tube B thereby is heldinexhausting and filling positions.

Within the housing 62 there is provided also a plug 86, which isthreaded exteriorly at 88, and which contains a duct 90 which has abranch tube 92 leading therefrom. The duct 90 is connected to the duct68 in the plug 64 by means of a rubber connector 94, which is controlledby a valve 96.

Registering with the duct 90 is a gage tube 98 which is mounted in aresilient rubber washer or the like I00. which is held in a cap I02threaded on the exterior threads 88 of the plug 86.

The branch 92 of the duct 90 is connected, as by means of a rubberconnector I04 to the liquid delivery tube 36, the rubber connector I04being controlled by a valve I06.

This entire apparatus is mounted on a stand I08 which is suitablysecured, as by screws or the like IIO,to a work table 2, attachment tothe support I08 being made conveniently by means of a flange II4 on thehousing 62, the mounting being made by means of suitable screws or thelike H6 which pass through the flange H4 and bracket I56 secured by ascrew or the like I5! to the support I08. The bracket I56 is provided.with an opening I59 through which the plug 66 of the apparatus Cextends.

Before the indicia tube B is mounted in operative position with respectto the apparatus C, a small amount of the volatile liquid is introducedinto the tube, conveniently by means of a dropper which introduces theliquid into the tube B through the tube 26.

The tube 26 then is inserted in the clamp I8, and is secured inplace bysuitable manipulation of the handle 80. The valve I06 is closed, so thatthere will be no flow of liquid from the flask 38 through the tube 36,and the valves 96 and I4 are opened so that the indicia tube B and thegage tube 98 will be brought into connection with the suction line notshown through the branch tube I0 and the rubber connector I2.

The system is thus exhausted, and the liquid previously inserted in thetube B is vaporized, thereby driving out all the air which is present.in the system.

While the suction is still being applied to the tube B, the valve 96 isclosed and the valve I06 is opened thereby bringing the gage tube 98into communication with the liquid delivery tube 36, so that liquid willflow from the flask 38 through the delivery tube 36. branch tube 92,duct 90 l and into gage tube 98. The gage tube 98'is of such capacitythat when it is emptied, the proper .amount of liquid will be introducedinto the inthe region of the bend, for facilitating heat ab sorption toaccentuate the vaporization of the liquid in the desired manner.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show details of the construction of the valvesemployed in the apparatus C, these valves being of a generally similartype in each instance.

Fig. 8 illustrates the construction of the valve I06, the view showingthe valve in open position so that liquid is free to fiow through therubber connector I04. It will be seen that the valve comprises simply acompression member I22 which is mounted in slots I24 and I26 in a framecomprising the side members I28 and I30 and an end member I32, the tubeI04 being inserted between the end member I32 and the compression valvemember I22, whereby upon actuation of the latter, the tube I04 becomescompressed and closed, as indicated in Fig. 9.

Actuation of the compression valve member' I22 is accomplished by meansof a rotatable actuator I34 which is mounted on a shaft I36 which inturn passes through the side members I28 and I30 of the valve frame, theshaft I36 being held in place by suitable means such as cotter pins I38.The actuator I34 is eccentrically mounted relatively to the shaft I36,so that it acts as a cam for operating the compression valve member I22.The actuator I34 is manipulated by means of a handle I40.

Fig. 8 shows the compression member I22 positioned in its guide membersI28 and I30 so as to allow the tube I04 to be open for admission of theliquid, whereas Fig. 9 shows the handle I40 turned into closing positionso as to cause the actuator I34 to move the compression valve member I22 in its slotted guides I28 and I so as to squeeze the tube I04 closed,the parts illustrated in Fig. 9 therefore showing the valve in closedposition,

The valve 96 is illustrated as being a construction entirely similar tothat of valve I06, so that the description of Figs. 8 and 9 will applyalso to the construction of the valve 96.

As illustrated-further, the valve 14 is-.also of a generally similarconstruction, in that this comprises a movable compression member I42which is mounted in guides I44 and I46, and which is actuated by arotary actuator I48,which is eccentrically mounted, as indicated at I50,movement of the actuator I48 being accomplished by manipulation of ahandle member I52.

Control of the suction through the tube 12 is effected by opening andclosing this tube by corresponding movements of the actuator I48 and thecompression valve member I42, the tube being retained between thecompression valve member I42 and a retaining member I54, which is shownas being bolted or otherwise secured to the flange II4 of the fillingapparatus and to the top I56 of the worktable, the securing of theretaining member I54 being accomplished by means of screws I58 whichpass through the flange I60 of'the retaining member I54 and the flangeH4 0! the filling apparatus and the top I56 of the work table. a

It will be seen therefore that the necessary controls for the suctionand for the admission of the filling liquid into the indicia tube B arevery simple in construction and in operation, and that when the indiciatube B is placed in'filling position, it is securely clamped therein bythe clamping action of the clamp 18 onto the filling tube 26.

When the tube has been filled with liquid to the desired amount, asindicated by the drainage of the gage tube 98, the filling tube 26 issealed oiI as has been mentioned above, there being left merely a shortstub I62 which is of an immaterial length.

In the form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 11. the construction issomewhat similar to that described above, except for the fact that theplug 64 is replaced by the modified plug 6411, which is provided with aninterior duct I64 which is provided with two branches, one of thesebranches I66 being connected to the exhaust line by means of a tube I68,corresponding to the tube 12, previously mentioned, and the secondbranch I10 being connected to a tube I14 which dips below the surface ofa supply of the liquid contained in a receptacle I16. This receptaclemay be simply a battle the mouth of which is closed with a ventedstopper I18 through which a tube I14 is passed. Suction through tube I14may conveniently be controlled by means such as petcock I12. Theclamping device is similar to device 18 as previously described. Thepurpose of this arrangement is to introduce the initial small quantityof volatile liquid into the tube B from the bottle I16 after the tube Bhas been placed in filling position, thereby avoiding the extramanipulation incurred by the introduction of the air displacing volumeof liquid in the tube B by means of a dropper, as above described,before the tube is secured in filling position. In operation, petcock I12 is opened momentarily to the position shown in Fig. 11 while suctionis applied through tube I88, and the desired amount of liquid is thusdrawn from bottle I16 and allowed' to fiow by gravity into tube B.

In the modified form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11, the valveconstruction and the remainder of the apparatus is identical with thatshown in Fig. 7, it being understood that the assembly of Fig. 11 ismerely substituted for the plug 64 and the assembled parts thereof inthe illustration of Fig. 7.

When the indicia tubes are mounted, the tube A and-the reservoir I8 areplaced desirably behind an opaque shield or the like indicated by theline I80, so that only the indicia tube B is visible to an observer. 1

The present application-is a continuation in part of my copendingapplication Serial No. 43,-

857 filed October 3, 1935, for Vacuum filling machine and method.

It will be understood that the present invention is not limited,necessarily, to the precise details 01' the steps, manipulations, andstructure, as are herein specifically illustrated and described, but

it will be apparent that such details are subject to variousmodifications which will become apparent readily to one skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention; and it will beunderstood, therefore, that it is intended and desired to include withinthe scope of the invention such modifications and changes as may benecessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses. it is also to beunderstood that the following claims are intended to cover all of thegeneric and specific features of the invention herein described, and allstatements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language,might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of producing display devices, which comprises introducinga small quantity of relatively volatile liquid into a preformed indiciatube, releasably clamping the said tube in an evacuating and fillingapparatus including a measuring device for containing a suitable supplyof liquid for introduction into the tube, simultaneously evacuating thetube and measuring device by applying suction thereto, interrupting thesuction while maintaining the tube and device evacuated, introducingliquid into the device from a suitable supply thereof, and draining theliquid into the evacuated indicia tube.

2. In the production of display devices, the combination of means forevacuating a preformed indicia tube and for filling the tube with adisplay liquid, the said means comprising a housing,

branched tubular passages in the housing, the branch from one or thepassages being adapted to be connected to a supply of the said liquid,the branch from the other passage being adapted to be connected to asource of suction, a closable connection between the passages, a gagedevice communicating with the first-mentioned passage for measuring theliquid from the said supply, valve means in the housing adapted to closeand to open the connection between the passages, a valve mechanism forcontrolling admission of liquid from the supply to the gage tube, valvemeans for controlling suction through the seccud-mentioned passage, andreleasably operated clamping instrumentalities for securing the indiciatube in position relative to the housing and in communication with thesource of suction and with the gage tube whereby, upon propermanipulation of the valves, the indicia tube and gage tube may beevacuated, the suction cut of! while the tubes are maintained evacuated,the gage tube filled with the liquid, the supply of liquid cut oil andthe liquid drained from the gage tube into the indicia tube to fill thelatter with measured quantity of liquid all while obviating any handlingor manipulation of the indicia tube.

3. In the production of display devices, in combination, a housingincluding means for releasably clamping a pre-iormed indicia tube inevacuating and filling position, devices for evacuating the tube,instrumentalities for introducing a measured quantity liquid into thetube while the said tube is evacuated, and means for introducing aninitial small amount of liquid into the indicia tube while suction isapplied thereto for displacing all air from the indicia tube prior tofilling thereof with liquid; and valves operable in predeterminedsequence for controlling the said devices, instrumentalities and meanswhile obviating manipulation of the indicia tube.

4. In the production of display devices, the combination of means forevacuating a preformed A indicia tube and for filling the tube with adisplay liquid, the said means comprising a housing, a branched tubularconduit in the housing, the branch from the said conduit being adaptedto be connected to a main supply of the said liquid, the remainingportion of the said conduit being adapted to communicate with a sourceof sue-- tion, connecting means comprising a plug member removablymounted in the housing and including a longitudinally extending tubularconduit having a plurality of branches leading therefrom, a connectionfor the plug interconnecting the said tubular conduit therein with thesaid conduit in the housing which is adapted to communicate with thesource of suction, a connection joining one of the said branches in theplug to the source of suction, a second connection for connectinganother branch in the plug to an auxiliary supply of liquid; a collarmounted upon the plug, clamping instrumentalities within the said plug,an opening extending through the collar and .clamping instrumentalitiesin alignment with the longitudinal conduit through the plug forreceiving and for releasably securing the indicia tube in exhausting andfilling position, a

gauge tube mounted on the housing in registry with the said conduit inthe housing, valve means in the housing adapted to close and to open theconnection between the plug and housing, a valve mechanism forcontrolling admission of liquid from the main supply to the gauge tube,a suction-controlling valve in the suction line leading from the housingto the source of suction, and suction-controlling means intermediate-theplug and auxiliary supply or liquid whereby, upon proper manipulation ofthe valve, the indicia tube and gauge tube may be evacuated while liquidis introduced into the indicia tube from the auxiliary liquid supply andevacuated to expel air from the indicia tube, the suction then cut 012while the gauge tube and indicia tube are maintained evacuated, thegauge tube filled with liquid from the main source, the supply or liquidcut oil, and the liquid drained from the gauge tube into the indiciatube to fill the latter with a measured quantity of liquid, all whileobviating any handling or manipulation of the indicia tube.

ALFONSE KAUFMAN.

